World Contraceptives Day 2020: Health Professionals Call for Rational Use of Contraceptives

By Dr Solomon Chollom,
Lead Correspondent, Inspiration Publishers
 
World Contraception Day (WCD) is celebrated globally on September 26th every year. The campaign was launched in 2007 to raise global awareness around a vision which emphasizes that every pregnancy must be wanted. 
 
WCD is geared towards giving married people information on child birth with particular mention to child spacing. It is also geared towards educating young people on sexual and reproductive health
 
Part of the mandate of the organizers is to give people options to birth control methods to enable them make informed choices. The day is meant to answer questions like which method protects against STIs? Which one is convenient and which is effective?
 
In Plateau State, the use of contraceptives has been observed to be on the rise. A Patent Medicine Store owner who preferred anonymity said those who patronize her store are mostly teenagers who are below the age of twenty.
 
“I know them. They are young girls below 20yrs of age and they are not married. It simply shows how sexually active they are and how aware they are also on the workings of contraceptives” she said
 
The State Public Relations Officer of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Plateau State, Pharm Kim Jerry Bot said the day is important to us because of the breakthrough that emerged from the success of controlling birth and child spacing.
 
He added that since the  first contraceptive was synthesized, regulation of population, reduction of maternal and child mortality, reduction of complications arising from early or premenopausal pregnancies and solution to the issues of unwanted pregnancies from rape or extramarital coitus have been achieved.
 
“ When children are well spaced, the mother will benefit from healthy ageing of children, child health- malnourishment and protein energy malnutrition would be grossly reduced and family finances will not be under strain” Pharm Kim said.
 
The pharmacist however lamented that some people abuse contraceptives, adding that it could result in health challenges like development of soft tissue or smooth muscle cysts, polyps or fibroids. He admonished that discrete use of barriers like condoms is a credible option as it helps a great deal in curbing health issues that may arise due to irrational use of contraceptives.
 
On his part, Ndak Kizito, a nurse/midwife and a drug addiction specialist said WCD is important as it helps create awareness on sex education, informed choices regarding contraceptives, prevention of sexually transmitted infections, prevention of unwanted pregnancy as well as reduction of maternal and infant mortality rate
 
“In as much as contraceptives have advantages, young people and the general public sometimes abuse them by not using them it as prescribed, some people embark on self prescription of contraceptives without minding the health implications” Nrs Kizito said.
 
He added that contraceptives have some side effects such as weight gain, irregular menstral flow and per vaginal bleeding amongst others.
He admonished intending users to seek expert opinion as he believes that such will avert possible health challenges and eliminate abuse of contraceptives
 
Tobias Choji, a medical laboratory scientist and histoscientist said contraceptives reduce the risk of certain cancers like endometrial and ovarian cancers in women but warned that research has suggested that they may increase the risk of other maignacies such as breast, cervical and liver cancers in indiscriminate and long-term users
 
“the laboratory plays a significant role in monitoring critical parameters ranging from pap smears to monitor development of cancerous cells to assessment of reproductive hormones to guide tenure and dosage of contraceptives. Liver enzymes as well as lipid profile is periodically assessed” Scientist Tobias said
 
As the world marks this year’s edition of WCD, Inspiration Publishers observed absence of special activities organised to mark the day in Jos, Plateau state by both government and non-governmental organisations